Staff Writers

David Archuleta Wikipedia

David James Archuleta (born December 28, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. At ten years old, he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition leading to other television singing appearances.[6] When he was twelve years old, Archuleta became the Junior Vocal Champion on Star Search 2.[6] In 2007, at sixteen years old, he became one of the youngest contestants on the seventh season of American Idol.[7] In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes.

The Effect of Chilean Dancing on Man-in-the-Making David Archuleta

When the words “dancing” and “Chile” are in the same sentence, visions of David dancing Salsa onstage at the JAS Arena in Rancagua come to mind, thanks to Gladys’ brilliant recap. But I learned that while Salsa and Tango may be popular dances in Latin America, they are not the only options.

Like all cultures, Chileans engage in popular and traditional folk dancing to celebrate cultural rituals. Chile prides itself on a traditional dance called “la Cueca” which became the national dance in 1979. Done at weddings, parties, and family gatherings, la cueca is taught to kids in elementary schools in Chile. Dance is an important part of Chilean culture.

The Cueca dancers dress in traditional colorful costumes with men in cowboy hats, horse riding pants, short jackets and riding boots with spurs. Women wear flowered dresses with aprons. They wave handkerchiefs in the air, mimicking playful romantic courting between a hen and a rooster. The character of the male performer is the aggressor and the female performer is elusive and demure.

The choreography of the Cueca is what makes it so appealing. Clap, clap, step, step, swing that handkerchief over your head… don’t fall, step again, now circle your partner… forward, back and pretend you’re a hen…There is an imaginary circle with the male performer in one half and the female in the other. In sync with the background music, the dance always starts with the man extending his arm as an offer to the woman to dance with him. The dance partners stand face to face at a distance from each other. Before the couple starts to dance, they begin clapping their hands to the music. Subtly flirtatious, couples move around each other in circles but all of the flirting is done with eye contact and body movement. There is barely any touching in this dance.

La Cueca is performed at every important festival in Chile, especially on September 18, Chilean Independence Day. Elder Archuleta could not have missed native Chileans performing this dance on that day.

There are other dances that are specific to different parts of Chile. In the north they celebrate the Fiesta de La Tirana in which the dancers wear demonic masks. In central Chile la Cueca rules and different variations of it are done. In Santiago the the peasant style, ballroom style and the Cueca Brava dominate. In the south there are religious Mapuche dances such as the Nguillatún and the Machitún in which prayers are offered to the supreme god Ngenechen and to the sacred canelo tree. A little farther south, among fishermen and farmers, the steps are livelier, to shake away the cold. In the Costillar dance, two men compete, dancing around a bottle placed in the middle of the dance floor, and the one who kicks the bottle over is the loser.

In October 2011, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Chile celebrated it’s fifty year anniversary of formal missionary work. Members gathered at a week-long celebration to commemorate the event. They celebrated in part by doing traditional dances of the country. The dances start at 1:15 in this video and at 2:50 there’s even a dance that resembles the Mexican Hat Dance.

Video courtesy of Mormon Channel/YouTube

The Chileans are passionate, colorful and religious people. They show this in their music and dance which are both integral parts of their culture. And here comes that vision of David dancing Salsa again. Ay Carumba!

56 Responses to “The Effect of Chilean Dancing on Man-in-the-Making David Archuleta”

jans11said

Bebe, I think the effect of Chilean dancing will be very strong on this man that David is becoming! Love, love this post! The Blue Dancing Sun makes me think of David “shaking up the world”! I have always loved the “south of the border” music! The dances are so fun and colorful and a lot of times romantic. David is fitting in very well by the report we recieved from Gladys on the last concert. Whoo hoo! And he’s to be “in training” for another 16 months! Oh, David, I think we’ll love the person you have become!♥

Before I go to bed, I just want to say good job! on the Dance article I have pushed you so hard to do, (perdo’n) but I had 2 very good reasons. First, we need to be aware and prepared for the cataclysm that is to come. Honduran/Chilean David 2.0 who will want us to dance with him.
And second, so I could post this video of the dancing dog from Chile. I so love this.

Bebe – Very interesting! Alot of culture David is probably soaking up! Dancing of some sort is probably the norm for many occasions, events, gatherings. Love to see a demonstration when David gets back! Martha 🙂

violet4eversaid

MTsaid

Bebe,
Great article! Your certainly did your research on this one. I love the videos. They dance with such flair and the costumes are so bright and colorful. It’s beautiful to watch.

I can imagine that David did go to some festivals and must have really enjoyed it. I wonder if he took part in some of the dancing? He has mentioned more than once that holidays at his home include lots of music and dancing, whether he wanted to dance or not. LOL

I hope you’re right, that he brings back some of the music and rhythm and DANCING that he is absorbing down there.

Abrrasaid

Bebe
Enjoyed the videos of the dancers so much. The costumes are colorful! I am wondering what the style of music the band was playing? Is it close to Mariachi? Can any of our Spanish fans answer my question?

Proof that David needs no partner or hanky 😉

@DavidArchie Manila to Ft Wayne, IN. Missing connecting flights & all our luggage David still made it on air with WAJI. (KS) pic.twitter.com/cDTU8J1W

MTsaid

Abrra,
Thanks for Kari’s tweet. That pic, just one of the things I love about this guy. Missed connecting flights, missing luggage, and from the look on his face you’d never know anything had gone wrong. Smiling from ear to ear with a twinkle in his eyes. He is such a joy. Love him. ♥

bebereadersaid

Hey Jans,
Any experience affects us in some way and you know how David absorbs new experiences. One can only imagine what he will get out of being exposed to some passionate Chilean dancing.

Angelica dahlink Boss,
Muchas Gracias por su delicioso artwork in the collage up top. Yo comprende now why it was so important to write this article to get our bearings and prepare for the cataclysm that is to come. Thudding in advance!

Angelofdja,
Squeeing with you!

Gladys,
De nada, mi amiga!

Martha,
I think the whole fanbase would agree with you when you say: ” Love to see a demonstration when David gets back!” 😉

Ay Carumba indeed! Thank you Bebe, love love this article!! (and I love the title pilfered or not!) haha its purrrfect!the videos are so good, I think I like the Cueca♥ ( ah David, learning this dance….I can see David dancing as the aggressor in this dance very manly♥)
also I have to echo everything Jan said in comment #1 cause I totally agree with it all!
I am trying to even imagine what the effect of 2 years of David being so imersed in Chilean culture is going to do…..to US! You know how he absorbs everything! eeeek!

Angelica, that dog! WOOF!! WOOF!! Love that video.. shoot,that dogs a better dancer than most dance partners I have ever had. haha (I say if poochie can learn to dance the merangue , husbands of the world no longer have an valid excuse! thanks for sharing Angelica!

12. Abrra, “Proof that David needs no partner or hanky”
haha true!
that gif! remember that particular move drove the whole fan base crazy?. I love the natural way he moves.

mlpb3said

Abrra – I should be able to answer the mariachi question, I’ve heard it practically all my life. (I live in a border city.) Mariachi music has more horns and a bass fiddle. There is some similarity. Here is some mariachi music from youtube:

skydancer1xsaid

That smile The most beautiful ,happy,natural,and expressive smile I have ever seen on any human being ….ever… ever.
( that would be a pilfered from Paula’s comment after hearing David sing Imagine “ever”)♥

Bebe, what a cultural experience! I just love how you go digging for us so we can be educated! 🙂 It’s going to be so interesting (? not sure that’s the word I want) to see the person that David brings back. I just can’t even think about it…sends chills up my spine and a flutter in my tummy!! Is it 2014 yet?

Awww bebe, you’re such a good researcher/writer. I LOVE all the videos! Reminds me of when he was little and dancing with his sister in traditional dress. So cute!
We can prepare all we want for David 2.0, but we will all just fall over into the fetal position anyway at his first concert. 🙂 And every one after.

One more thing.
The setting: My store, at register 2 lol
The time: Earlier tonight
The music: CFTH, playing LOUDLY, from a hidden cd player 2 aisles away behind the Christmas lights, placed there by moi
The song at the aforementioned time: Silent Night
The customer: What appeared to be a mild mannered 30 yr old woman
The purchase: Socks, gloves and Naproxen (that was unnecessary info lol)
“WHO THE HECK IS THAT SINGING AND WHERE IS IT COMING FROM. OMG THAT VOICE”
You guys, I am still smiling over this. :)))
Because she knows now.
Maybe more than she wanted but hahahahahaahahahaahaaha.
He made a new fan tonight. And he’s not even around.
But a HUGE part of him IS around.
Gah I love him.

Bebe, thanks for the video of the Chilean dancers. Imagining David as the agressor makes my heart go pitter patter…
Gladys, the Tango has David 2.0 written all over it! Yikes! He’ll be something to behold when he returns! I hope you witness more of that David when you see him next. Go you! So happy your able to hear him sing Christmas music. He feels that music so deeply and shares that feeling with his audiences so well.
He has such a deep understanding of music in all areas. I can only assume this would carry over to dance as well. Gosh, he is so good at everything he does! 😉

bebereadersaid

Bebe, I love your informative, interesting and fun articles. You bring us such valuable tidbits on how David is being influenced by the culture he has immersed himself in that yes be afraid, be very afraid is very appropriate 🙂

David has slowly shared that he knows how to “move”. I’m sure it’s for our own protection lol

Abrrasaid

MT
The whistling pic was sent to me by Djafan. It was part of an old news item, I believe. I add a picture almost daily to the sidebars. I place them randomly so you have to look at them all to discover new ones.
/evil grin

Abrrasaid

kayceesaid

Bebe, Ay Carumba is right!! Loved reading your article and learning about the culture that David is immersed in for the next year and a half. Love the energy and passion…sounds just like someone we know!

Lynnellasaid

Love the thought of David doing the Tango. Was watching Dancing with the Stars last night, and everyone had to Tango to Michael Jackson music. Everytime I see Apolo Ohno dance, I can imagine David doing that. They’re about the same size and coloring. I know the fans don’t want him to do another competition show, but it would sure bring him a lot of attention. And, if he can dance the way we know he will when he comes back, his fan base will triple. Just saying, I would love to see him on my TV screen every week again.

Abrrasaid

Waaaay off topic BUT I know we have many cat lovers here at The Voice. I heard about this live web cam that is aimed at a momma cat and her 4 spice colored kittens. There are 3 boys, named Mace, Basil and Sage. The lone girl is Black & White, named Pepper. I am enjoying them so much. I set it up on the other computer screen so I can check in anytime I want. If you have small children in your house, I know they would love to watch the show. It’s nap time right now, so check back later if they are not active.

The top video is LIVE, but if you scroll down the page there are other videos that have lots of kitten action captured at another time. Near the bottom you can see them when they were very young.

emmegirl14said

Abrra, thanks for the tip on the random placement of the sidebar pics. Thought I was going crazy sometimes, “how did I miss that pic before”…. course, I didn’t really question it that much considering the effect they can have on you.

awww cute little kittieeeeees!( thanks abrra,I love that fish house snuggy place thing!) lol
still can’t get over the Dancing dog.
Lynnella, who knows what opportunities will arise when David returns:)) I love DWTS too.Thing is, its had a long run already, and like Idol, both may be gone by 2014.But I agree,sure would love to see him on the airwaves. ahh, so many dreams we have for David don’t we?He is so mulit-talented its hard not to let your imagination go wild! haha such fun♥

emmegirl14said

lanisaid

LOL Spirit just went through all the pics again to check on that “two good sides”…. (actually I just needed a reason to look at them again thanks to you… lol because I’ve been guilty of examining them too much way too many times 😀

MTsaid

Angelica,
Hahahahahahaha OMG! I finally had time to watch that dancing dog video and she is sooo good! I smiled and laughed my way through the whole thing. The dog dances better than a lot of people I know. LOLOL

Thanks for the laugh. 😀

Abrra,
Perusing the sidebars again. LOL I see santa has made it into our collection. 🙂

blueskysaid

Djafansaid

Today while on a hunt for a sweet sixteen dress granddaughter yells out with tears in her eyes “Gramma, I just realized we won’t have a Christmas concert to go to this year!” You could imagine my reaction, we cried together. ;(